DOT Removes Bike-Safety Resources From FHWA Website After “DEI Bike Lanes” Directive

FHWA staff received an internal email on July 9 titled “URGENT ACTION: Update Website.” The message directed staff to strip references to bike lanes, speed cameras and related strategies from the agency’s “Proven Safety Countermeasures” list. Analysis of the FHWA site by the Internet Archive shows dozens of pages—including the Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT) and the Highway Safety Information System—removed or edited during that period.

NPR

Earlier this month the Department of Transportation announced more than $1.7 billion in discretionary grants that excluded funding for bike lanes or pedestrian projects, a reversal of the Biden administration’s practice of allocating hundreds of millions to such projects. The change follows Duffy’s July 7 statement condemning “DEI bike lanes.”

NPR

PBCAT, a web-based tool that captures detailed crash data to help planners develop countermeasures, is now inaccessible via the FHWA site. David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and lead researcher on the original PBCAT project, said the removal hampers nationwide tracking of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. He noted that the tool remains “under review” but that the criteria and timeline are unclear. Harkey also warned that a similar review led to the Highway Safety Information System’s removal 18 months ago and has yet to be restored.

NPR

No further details on the review criteria or schedule were provided.

NPR

• “That's really important because it helps us do a better job of tracking pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities across the nation,” — David Harkey, the IIHS president

NPR

• “It's not clear to us what is being reviewed, what the criteria are, what they are looking for,” — David Harkey, the IIHS president

NPR

• “That's one of the frightening things about this process,” — David Harkey, the IIHS president

NPR

• “Safety involves everyone on the roadway,” — David Harkey, the IIHS president

NPR